Blood Moon Rising

Three

Jirani rubbed her eyes as she tried to focus on Rex's questions. It had been a long night of pouring over ancient texts and researching history in the library with Zaiyon.

She could feel Rex’s eyes on her from across the room, watching her every move with a mixture of suspicion and disapproval. But she refused to let him dictate her every action, especially when it came to her own happiness.

As Rex continued to probe her about her tired appearance, Jirani forced a smile and brushed off his concerns. She couldn't risk revealing the truth of her late-night activities, not when her father's spies were everywhere.

When it came to her father punishing her, he was far from merciful. The last thing she needs right now is to be under her father’s suspicion.

“Did you get any sleep?” Rex asks her. “Yes, I did. I’m fine.” “Will you be able to pay attention during the meeting?” Rex asks. She sighs softly out of annoyance.

“Rex, I’ve been doing this all my life now. I don’t need this. It’s overbearing.” Jirani tells him, on the verge of snapping.

She promptly turns away from him, leaving him there in the corridor alone.

“You know,” a deep voice sounds out from behind him. Rex turns, finding the king himself, Lord Delaney, standing directly behind him.

“You have no control over that woman. If you marry her like that, you may as well crown her king.” He tells Rex.

“…I don’t know what to do. She just won’t listen.” Rex replies, feeling frustrated.

“You’re going to marry my daughter and be king, right? Fill my shoes?” Delaney asks him. Rex nods his head determinedly.

“Then you need to toughen up!” Delaney says aggressively. “No man in the Thorin bloodline or legacy has been weak and never will be! If you can’t even have dominion over your wife, you can’t have dominion over an entire kingdom. You need to step into your role as the leader.”

Rex’s eyebrows furrow at Delaney words, still unsure of what to do. “You need to correct her behavior. Punish her.” Delaney adds on.

“Think long and hard about it, Rex. And do not disappoint me my dear son.” Delaney pats him firmly on the shoulder before walking away.

Rex has never considered laying a hand on Jirani, and to be frank, he can’t imagine himself doing it. HE stares down at his hands, becoming oddly self aware of them and their size.

Later that evening, Lord Delaney calls for a military meeting with all of his commanders and advisors. Since he’s had Jirani apart of this world for so long in order to prepare her for her reign, so she’s a regular figure at these meetings.

Rex watches her closely from afar, seated a bit further away from her instead of closer by. She looks as if she’s close to nodding off and going to bed right then and there.

She’s trying her hardest to stay awake and pay attention, but it’s starting to get difficult. That is, until her father’s booming voice takes over the entire room.

“Good evening you all. There’s some important things we need to address so I’ll get straight into it.” He begins.

“Our conquest, though successful, has been meeting a bit of drawback. Especially from southern nations Orion and Runalia.” He explains.

This information captures Jiranis attention. Those two nations are extremely powerful and wealthy, so maybe they can stop her father.

“We need to redirect our conquest and take over the smaller nations and villages towards the east. It’ll be the easiest, though will take a bit longer than taking over the southern nations piece by piece.” He explains.

All of the commanders nod their heads. “We need to be especially aware of Orion and their leaders. Their king Adonis, and his son Leonidas are causing me one hell of a headache.” He adds on with annoyance.

“Today I was supposed to receive great news about our conquest in Tritoy, but they seemed to have beat us to the punch. Perhaps they’ve just thought ahead and figured we would try to infiltrate the smaller surrounding nations and villages…but something doesn’t sit well with me.” He ruminates.

Jiranis eyes quickly cut to Zaiyon, suddenly understanding now. Zaiyon must’ve told them about her father’s plans on infiltrating Tritoy, a small nation to the north of Orion, the strongest nation in the south.

“If I find there’s any traitors…I will show you no mercy. You and your family will pay the price.” Lord Delaney threatens.

Rex takes a peek at Jirani again, catching her staring at one of the elders. He’s instantly enraged and jealous, wondering why she’s staring at him specifically.

“I was opposed to taking over the smaller nations in the east due to their low vegetation rates, but we can compensate in other areas other than agriculture.“ Delaney thinks aloud.

This is how the meetings usually go. The only one who is permitted to speak is Lord Delaney himself, and anyone he grants direct permission to speak in the moment.

If anyone interjects and voices their opinion, they will find themselves in a world of trouble.

“I will assign each of you a different nation to scout and take over. Do whatever you need or want to do, so long as those nations become our territories. Anything is acceptable.”